Before becoming a riverdance superstar, Michael Flatley worked on a construction site and had no desire to tell his coworkers about his love of dance.
The 65-year-old Lord of the Dance performer has stated that he feared being mocked by his coworkers due to previous negative experiences and ‘terrible bullying’.
Fortunately for Flatley, he got the last laugh.
He rose to prominence in the Irish dance production Riverdance, which debuted as a break in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994.
Flatley went on to create the hugely successful stage show Lord of the Dance.
In a new interview, the performer reflected on his roots and how the reception to his talents exceeded his expectations.
‘We nailed it, my dream,’ he began to the BBC.
‘For years, I was working on construction sites and digging foundations in Chicago. During those freezing cold winters, I was creating those steps, in my dance style, in my mind that whole time.
‘That’s what got me through the hard, laborious work.’
When asked if he shared his passion for dance with his coworkers, he laughed.
‘No! The big, muscly guys? Better not mention that I’m dreaming about dancing, probably not the right thing to do.’
We wonder what those ‘big, muscly guys’ would have to say now, given that his shows have played to more than 60million people in 60 countries and have grossed more than $1billion.
Flatley’s stunning dancing has wowed audiences all over the world, but he did not have an easy start.
Michael rose to prominence in the Irish dancing production Riverdance, which debuted as a break in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. He went on to create the massively successful stage show Lord Of The Dance.
‘I got bullied at school terribly, so I know what young lads go through and it’s trying, it’s mentally difficult, it’s stressful to have to walk into school and hope somebody doesn’t say something negative to you,’ he shared.
Flatley hopes that by paving the way, he has made life easier for boys who want to dance.
‘If you look at our dancers now in Lord of the Dance, the men are so powerfully built, they’ve taken it to a whole new level.’
His candid discussion comes one year after Flatley revealed his devastating cancer diagnosis.
He revealed his ‘aggressive’ illness to the world in January, just a few months after undergoing treatment.
He praised the ‘excellent team of doctors’ who had cared for him.
A statement shared on his Instagram page said at the time: ‘Dear friends, we have something personal to share, Michael Flatley has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
‘He has undergone surgery and is in the care of an excellent team of doctors. No further comments will be made at this time. We ask only for your prayers and well wishes. Thank you. 🙏🏻 Teamlord’.
